Shoe construction



Nov. 9, 1943. c. F. HOYT SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 27, 1942 lNl/EA/TOB CHARLES E #0/7; -yw @olm d 4rroen/EK5.

Patented Nov. 9, 1943 .umri s'TArEs PATENT OFFICE SHOE .oons'mpoqrlon v Charles F. Hoyt, Kirk wood, Mo. Application July 27, casein Nd.. 452,,as.0

4 Claims. (01. 36-245) The present invention relates to a shoe construction.

More particularly, it involves a construction of a shoe shank that adds stiffening without increasing the total number of parts, that reduces the amount of leather required, and that does so without requiring radial changes in the other parts of the shoe.

The objects of the invention are to attain each of the foregoing results.

A further specific object is to provide such a shank that does not require any special heel construction, and that may be united very simply with the forepart of the outsole.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a bottom view of a shoe on a last showing the upper lasted over the inner sole;

Fig. 2 is an up-side-down-side View of the upper of Fig. 1 with the shank piece of the present invention shown in place, and with the forepart of the outsole shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2 with the heel added thereto;

Fig. 4 is a right side up side elevation partly broken away of a shoe showing the present construction;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the shank of the present construction showing a cover thereon partly broken away;

Fig. 6 is a section through the forepart of the covered shank piece taken on the line 6-45 of Fig. 5; and,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the covered shank piece taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

In the drawing, an upper comprising the usual parts is generally indicated at I0. In Figs. 1-3, this upper is shown on a last H, and is also shown as lasted over an insole I2.

A shank piece l4, shown more particularly in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, fits beneath the insole and over the lasted edges of the upper at the shank of the shoe. It is formed of a stiff material, preferably of wood, that is shaped out so as to seat snugly against the shank of the tapered insole, and is curved upon its bottom surface. This shank piece is tapered at l5 upon its forward edge to form a skiving eifect to receive a correspondingly shaped overlying portion I 6 of the forepart of the outsole. As the shank is applied to the external part of the shank portion of the shoe sole, it reduces the amount of leather required. It may be finished on its exterior surface with a lacquer or other coating II, or it may be covered with thin leather or other material if desired. The external shank piece l4 also serves to stiffen the shank of the shoe sufficiently so that the usual metal shank employed in the conventional shoe construction may be omitted, thereby obviating the use of metal in the shoe.

The rear part of the shank piece, comprising a tongue Zil, is integral with the main part of the shank piece and is joined to the same at a shoulder portion 2|, that extends from side to side of the main piece I4. The lower surface of the tongue 20 is slightly convex. This tongue fits into the heel seat and extends far enough to receive the drive screw 22 and nails 23 (Fig. 4), by means of which a heel 24 is attached to the shoe. The heel may be of any of the conventional types. That illustrated in the drawing is a standard wood heel. The shank piece itself is secured to the shank of the shoe by cementing, or any of the familiar means.

The shoulder 2! receives the forward part of the heel, and desirably the shank piece at this point is shaped to correspond with the shape of the heel and provide a smooth juncture. The curvature on the upper surface of the heel is sufficient to cover the tongue 20.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides a shank piece that adds stiifening to the shoe, and which has the additional advantage of saving leather. It requires no change in the heel construction and only a simple change in the outsole construction. It provides a secure design, as the shank is bound to the heel seat and the heel itself.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shoe construction, a shank piece formed of relatively stiff material, a tongue extending rearwardly from the shank portion of the shank piece and under the heel seat of the shoe, said tongue being adapted to fit within the lasted over portion of the upper, and a shoulder at the joint of the tongue with the shank portion of the shank piece adapted to receive the forward portion of the heel and to locate the same.

2. In a shoe construction, a shoe having an insole and a lasted upper, a wooden shank portion extending under the shank portion of the upper from substantially the ball portion of the shoe to the heel seat thereof, the shank portion being adapted to engage over the lasted portion of the upper in the shank part thereof and being tapered'at its forward end toward the ball portion of the shoe, an outsole shaped to fit over the tapered portion of the shank piece and extending therefrom to the front of the shoe, a

2 shoulder upon the shank piece adjacent the forward end of the heel and adapted to receive said forward end of the heel and locate the same, a tongue on the shank piece extending rearwardly from the shoulder portion, said tongue portion being adapted to be received within the limits of the last of the upper about the heel, a heel engaging over the tongue portion and fitting against the shoulder portion, and screw means extending through the insole, the tongue portion and the heel.

3. A shoe sole comprising a forward portion terminating adjacent the shank portion formed of relatively stiff material having its forward end united with the rear end of the forepart of the shoe sole adjacent the hall;

ball of the shoe, a

of the shoe, said shank portion extending rearwardly to adjacent the heel, means on the shank portion extending beneath the heel seat of the shoe, a heel, and means for fastening the rearwardly projecting means on the shank piece, and the heel, securely in position.

4. In a shoe construction, a shank piece formed of relatively stiff material, the outer surface of which constitutes the shank portion of the sole of the shoe, a tongue extending rearwardly from the shank portion of the shank piece and under the heel seatjof the shoe, said tongue being adapted to fit within the lasted portion of the upper, a separate sole piece for the ball portion of the shoe and adapted to form a smooth joint with the forward edge of the shank piece, a heel, and means for securing the tongue of the shank piece and the heel securely in position.

' 3 CHARLES F. HOYT. 

